Updated at 1.30am
United States forces struck against Afghanistan at about 12.30am on Monday morning in retaliation for the September 11 terrorist strikes on New York and Washington, President George W. Bush revealed.
In the first wave of attacks in what the US government has called ''a long war'' cruise missiles hit terrorist training camps in Afghanistan's capital Kabul and and the spiritual centre of the Taliban, Kandahar.
The Afghanistan Kandahar Airport Command Base has been destroyed, according to media sources.
''On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al Qaeda training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime,'' President Bush said in a televised address at 1 p.m.
The President's spokesperson said to the media shortly after the attacks that ''freedom will prevail over fear.''
President George W. Bush stressed: ''The Taleban will pay a price.''
However, he reassured the Afghan people that: ''The United States is a friend to the Afghan people...and those who practice the Islam faith.''
President Bush explained that the attacks, which is fully backed by British forces, has no intention of hurting the innocent.
''Medicine and supplies will be provided for those suffering,'' President Bush said.
Kandahar, located close to the Pakistan border, is where the main Taliban officials are located.